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Observation: Moab

Observation Date
11/28/2024
Observer Name
Charlie R, Tim M, Parker
Region
Moab
Location Name or Route
Horse Creek
Weather
Sky
Clear
Wind Speed
Calm
Weather Comments
Cold morning. Clear sunny day with little to no wind.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Rain-Rime Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
New snow skied very well. The firm high density slab is very supportable with a few inches of soft/surf on top. Solar aspects were not wet as we were existing, but the southern half of the compass could see melt freeze crusts within a day or two at our latitude.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Early season snow with a new slab on top. We experienced cracking and collapsing on our skin trail. No signs of wind loading where we traveled today. There were signs of wind loading visible above treeline, even early cornices forming. The poor snowpack structure was common almost everywhere.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Problem #1 Comments
Ample faceted and crusted snow at the base of the snowpack. Weak faceted snow was absent on S and SW aspects more than 200' vert up from the base of the gully - there was still old snow that was angulated and showed signed of facet growth, but could be characterized more as a crust than a PWL for now.
Snow Profile
Elevation
10,400'
Comments
CT12 RP. Broke at the top of the melt freeze basal crust that was lightly faceted. Very resistant planar.
ECTX/ECTN 14, barely broke at the top of the dense storm snow/at the visible rime crust before the 6'' of med density storm snow. The rime crust did not pose a specific instability that we witnessed, at other elevations and aspects where it is present, maybe it could be a weak layer for recent wind slabs. Worth keeping in mind in the coming days as people explore.
HS on our S SW pit was 48cm.
Photo shows recent rime, settling of the storm snow, and the sparkly sunshine.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates